Roy Clark honored to join Country Music Hall of Fame

From left, Charlie McCoy, Barbara Mandrell and Roy Clark are announced as the 2009 inductees of the Country Music Hall of Fame at a press conference hosted by the Country Music Association Wednesday at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tenn. (Photo by John Russell/CMA)

A version of this story ran in Thursday’s The Oklahoman.

Roy Clark ‘honored’ to join Country Hall of Fame
Longtime Tulsan’s career includes a Grammy and several Top 10 singles

Prominent country musician Roy Clark feels honored to be joining what he calls “a very exclusive club”: the Country Music Hall of Fame.

The Country Music Association announced Wednesday that the longtime Tulsa resident will be among the Nashville, Tenn.-based institution’s 2009 inductees, along with singer Barbara Mandrell and musician Charlie McCoy. They will be formally inducted in spring.

“You’re so busy working all the time that you never think about it,” Clark, 75, said. “I’m honored to be in the Country Music Hall of Fame because I know or knew 90 percent of the people who are in here; they’re my friends. And the rest of them I don’t know are my heroes.”

His six-decade career includes a Grammy award and several Top 10 country singles. But the talented banjo, guitar and mandolin player is probably best known for co-hosting the TV variety show “Hee Haw” with Buck Owens for more than 20 years.